Rod Stewart: ‘Titanic museum my one stop shop in Belfast’
Veteran rocker plans to see the sights in December
Rod Stewart has revealed he enjoys Belfast’s rich heritage and Titanic history each time he visits.
Last week the 74-year-old announced an upcoming gig in the SSE, just in time for Christmas.
Rod was welcomed into the Rock & Roll Hall of fame in 1994 and was once described by Legendary ‘Godfather of Soul’ James Brown as ‘the best white singer ever.’
Speaking to Downtown Radio’s Neal McClelland, Rod said he was honoured:
“I was absolutely knocked out about that, he was one of the greats…and for it to come from him, blew me off my feet.”
The Veteran rocker is no stranger to musical accolades. He was awarded the Brit award for outstanding contribution to music in 1993 and in 2016 he was knighted by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace for services to music.
Sir Roderick brings his latest tour to Belfast on December 2, to mark the release of his thirtieth studio album, Blood Red Roses.
The Maggie May singer told us he plans to visit his favourite sites:
“Every time I go to Belfast I usually go and visit the Titanic museum, I just can’t resist it…it’s absolutely breath taking.”
“I saw a Night to remember when I was a little kid I must’ve been about seven or eight and the whole history of the Titanic has stayed with me to this day and I’ve told my kids about it.”
He added: “So I’m going to bring my boys over to see it the next time.”
Rod has enjoyed performing gigs in Northern Ireland multiple times and said he always spends a few days in the city:
“I’ve always had wonderful times, I love the pubs in Northern Ireland…I went over to see Scotland play Ireland in Windsor Park, I remember that well, wonderful night out I was treated so well.
“I’ve only got fond memories, really fond memories.”
The legendary rock singer-songwriter has been married three times and has eight children, the youngest when he was 17. Rod told us family means the world to him:
“It’s everything.
“I’m very lucky because I’ve had eight children and we’re all happy and we talk to each other in fact we’re all going on holiday with each other in a few weeks.”
Rod kicked off his musical career with several bands before going out on his own in the 70s. He told us about his inspiration and the birth of his love for music:
“It started way back with my mum and dad who used to play Al Jolson songs and at Christmas we’d all sing these Al Jolson songs and Dean Martin and I think that’s why I did a great American songbook because I knew all the songs, they were thrust into my head.
“The early influences was Al Johnson and that moved onto folk music, not so much country music, the likes of Willie Guthrie and rambling Jack Elliot and then I fell in love with soul music and the rest is history really.”
Speaking about his future endeavours, he revealed his next step will be a country album:
“I want to do a country album and that’s probably what I’m going to do next.
“I’ve just written three album, two number ones…and I think I’ve proved that I can write songs again but I’d love to do a country album that’s one thing I always wanted to do, some of the great country love songs.”
The 74-year-old has enjoyed a career spanning over five decades and luckily for fans, he has no plans to retire any time soon:
“I’ve had such a great life, all I could ask for is good health and happiness, I’ve got everything I could possibly want and to keep doing what I’m doing for as long as I can, as long as I don’t embarrass myself I would love to keep going."